September 30th Test Flashcards
The Declaration of Independence was written primarily by ____________ on July 4, 17___?
Thomas Jefferson in 1776
The __________ of ___________ is essentially a letter to King George III of Britain to the British parliament explaining to them that the colonies would be leaving the British Empire and forming their own country.
Declaration of Independence
In The Declaration of Independence, this document, Thomas Jefferson writes that all people are born equal and are born
with natural rights that cannot be taken from them. These natural rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This idea originated with the philosopher_____?
John Locke
Jefferson goes on to state that governments exist to protect natural rights and that they must come from the _________ of the __________?
Consent of the government
A government that is not agreed upon by the people is not a legitimate government, and the people have the right to _______ or _________ it
Alter or abolish it
Jefferson then lists a series of ___________ or _________, that the colonists have against the King
Grievances or complaints
List the 7 grievances that were listed in the Declaration of Independence
• Taxation without representation.
• Quartering of soldiers during times of peace.
• Not letting colonists cross the Appalachian Mountains and settle the Ohio Territory
• The King did not let us make our own laws and closed our assemblies (legislatures).
• Closed Boston Harbor.
• Cutting off trade with the rest of the world.
• Did not let us have trial by jury; closed our courts.
The articles of confederation was a first attempt at a _________ ___________.
National constitution
The articles of confederation created a ___________: the individual parts had most of the power.
Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were only used during the years of ____ - ____. It was scrapped in favor of a new ____________.
1776 - 1789
Constitution
The Articles of Confederation allowed the National government to do what 3 things?
• Had a legislative branch and could make laws.
• The national government could borrow money.
• Could declare war and make treaties.
Major problems with the National government under the Articles of Confederation were? List 8 major problems.
• The central government under the articles only had one branch (legislative/congress). It took 9 out of the 13 states to pass a law. Each state got one vote.
• Even if they somehow managed to pass a law, it had very little meaning because there was no Executive Branch to enforce the laws.
• They could not collect taxes; the national government had to ask the states for money.
• There was no Judicial Branch. This meant that states could not settle their disputes, nor could citizens in different states settle their disputes.
• States could, and did, ignore the central government. They were essentially independent from each other.
• Each state had its own currency (money), which made business very difficult, and they would routinely tax each other’s goods.
• To amend (change/update) the Articles of Confederation, ALL 13 states had to agree to
the changes. This was almost impossible!
• Even though the national government could declare war, they had no money to raise an army
What did Shays’ Rebellion show?
Showed how weak the government was under the Articles of Confederation and why they needed to be amended (changed).
• Massachusetts asked other states for help, but they offered none.
• The central government could not put together an army to stop Daniel Shays and his men.
What did Shays’ Rebellion show?
Showed how weak the government was under the Articles of Confederation and why they needed to be amended (changed).
Who was Daniel Shays and what was he known for in the Revolutionary War?
• Daniel Shays was a farmer from Massachusetts that was heavily indebted to the state government.
• Daniel Shays was a Revolutionary War veteran that was owed back pay by the national government that they could not give to them due to their inability to collect taxes.
• Daniel Shays rounded up other angry farmers and rebelled against the Massachusetts state government.
During Shays Rebellion, Massachusetts asked other states for help, but what happened?
They offered none.
The __________ ____________ could not put together an army to stop Daniel Shays and his men.
Central government
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a direct result of _______ _____________.
Shays Rebellion
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was where ___ of the ___ states met in Philadelphia to try and amend the Articles
of Confederation. Which state did not send anyone?
12 of 13 states
Rhode Island did not send anyone
Factions were quickly formed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and what broke out?
A fight